Three new species and four new species records of earthworms of the genus Moniligaster Perrier, 1872 (Clitellata: Moniligastridae) from Kerala region of the Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot, India Author Narayanan, S. Prasanth Advanced Centre of Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development, Mahatma Gandhi University, Priyadarsini Hills, Kottayam - 686560, Kerala, India Author Sathrumithra, S. Advanced Centre of Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development, Mahatma Gandhi University, Priyadarsini Hills, Kottayam - 686560, Kerala, India Author Anuja, R. School of Environmental Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Priyadarsini Hills, Kottayam - 686560, Kerala, India Author Christopher, G. Advanced Centre of Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development, Mahatma Gandhi University, Priyadarsini Hills, Kottayam - 686560, Kerala, India Author Thomas, A. P. Advanced Centre of Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development, Mahatma Gandhi University, Priyadarsini Hills, Kottayam - 686560, Kerala, India Author Julka, J. M. School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Solan- 173212, Himachal Pradesh, India text Zootaxa 2021 2021-03-25 4949 2 381 397 journal article 7489 10.11646/zootaxa.4949.2.11 e874c6d1-463e-48b3-8d44-2c45ef752a2b 1175-5326 4636238 C792D613-C435-4BC8-8EF7-150427B0D5C4 Moniligaster stephensoni Gates, 1940 Moniligaster perrieri Michaelsen, 1907 sensu Stephenson 1924: 322 , “partim” ( Gates 1940: 514 ). Moniligaster stephensoni Gates, 1940: 514 . Brief description. Colour bluish. Dimensions: 114.5–118 mm by 6–6.5 mm , segments 178–179. Spermathecal pores transverse slits, at cd , in intersegmental furrow 7/8. Male pores paired, large transverse slits, at bc , nearer to b than c . Gizzards 5–6, in segments 13–22. Testis sacs in segment 10. Vas deferens coiled into a mass of hairpin loops, mass as large as testis sac; vas passes under longitudinal musculature before entering ectal end of prostate; prostates latero-mesially flattened and disc shaped, capsule disc shaped, latero-mesially flattened. Spermathecal atrial glands in segments 7 and 8, duct of each atrial gland about half the length of common atrial duct, which is slender and erect. Material examined. 1 clitellate and 6 aclitellates ( ACESSD /EW/688), shola forest, Mattuchola in Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary ( 10°14’28.7”N , 77°14’12.9”E ), Idukki District , Kerala , India , 24 November 2013 , 1954 m a.s.l., T . Augustine, D . Kuriakose, S . Sathrumithra and S.P. Narayanan . Distribution. India : Kerala State : Idukki District: Mattuchola in Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary (present record) ( Fig. 4 ). Elsewhere. Kodaikanal, Vanderavu (= Bander) in Tamil Nadu ( Gates 1940 ) Remarks. First record of the species from Kerala . Previously it was known only from Tamil Nadu ( Gates 1940 ). It is a species of the shola forest.